Kitchen faucet only drips (both hot and cold drip, presume frozen pipe), cold weather, plumber, what to do?

Question

Live in Minnesota, it's been below zero for a few days in a row. Initially few days ago could not get hot water but cold worked fine at kitchen faucet. Local plumber suggested I find the pipes in the basement and put source of heat on them, and also drain hot water from some other faucet into the kitchen drain, and raise temperature in home by few degrees. Did all that and that night after a while hot water came back enough to run the dishwasher, etc. Then was gone 3 days, came back and now neither hot or cold gives me more than a drip. Hot water pipe under the sink feels warm. I again applied warm air both under sink and in the basement around the pipes for a bit, put a lot of hot water down the drain from another faucet, this time no success. Still just dripping.

What can I do?

Thanks!

Answer 1

If the pipes are freezing in the basement a heat source down there would be a good idea. It shouldn't be that cold in a basment. You may want to check for possible drafts down there. Insulating the pipes under the kitchen may not be a bad idea either. If the hot water pipe under the sink feels warm I would have to think that it is either frozen under the cabinet or you mave have a blockage in the supply line, or the faucet.

I would shut off the supplies under the kitchen sink and remove the supply line from them. Move the supply line to the side and put a rag over the shut off where the supply line would connect. Turn on the valve and see if you get water spraying out. If it does then my guess would be your faucet is plugged. you may want to remove the aerator first and check that, the screen may be plugged. Where the water comes out of the faucet, that part will come out you may need a pair of pliers, grip it with a rag or you could scratch it. Most faucets have a small opening in them and it's very easy for them to plug.

If it is frozen, heat it.

Answer 2

Your pipes are frozen. You need to insulate your crawl space, and put a vapor barrier down.

3 mil plastic to cover windows works great for a vapor barrier. You can get normal faced insulation and put that around the foundation allowing it to hand down along the foundation wall, but not touching the ground.

Close any venting holes in the winter too.

When you do this, the heat from inside the house will be sufficient to heat the crawl space and keep the water flowing.

If after doing that, that isn't enough, you can wrap the pipes with heat tape for those really cold nights.

Be careful you don't get too hard a freeze. If it is galvanized pipes they can withstand a good freeze, mostly.

If the pipes are copper, they can swell, and my burst.

If they are CPVC, then they will crack and actually split quite a long distance. However, CPVC are the easiest to fix, and you generally won't need a plumber.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Sorry, does not sound good.

When your thaw happens be sure to ck for any frozen pipes that might be leaking.

I don't know exactly how you're heating those regions suggested by the plumber, but leaving the doors open under the sink and putting an incandescent lamp close to the plumbing is one way. Be sure to AVOID ANY FIRE HAZARD. If your basement is not heated and your plumbing is exposed there, then some simple SAFE heat source there -- when you're away -- might address this in the future.

Answer 4

May have a line frozen going to your hot water heater, meaning you will still get cold water. I suggest double insulating pipes and possibly raising the temperatures in your home a few notches. I just had that happen to me and that was my problem. Good luck.

Answer 5

There's a great book at local libraries called Black and Decker Guide to Home Repairs, I suggest that.

Also, perhaps ask a knowledgable neighbour or hire a plumber or a handyman service (ie. Mr. Handyman), potential water damage/associated mold is not worth the risk in my opinion.

Answer 6

Drip the cold water. The hot water piping should be enclosed within the envelope of the house and is kept warm by the ambient temperature inside.

Answer 7

it is not a frosen pipe. the "O" rings in your faucet are old and are not keeping the seal to close. there fore it drips. drips. drips.